Bathing cap ensemble



July 26,1949. 7 Y 2,477,489

BATHING CAP ENSEMBLE File d May 21, 1946 Ros/1 RLoy Patented July 26,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bathing cap ensembles and hasparticular relation to caps of this type which, in service, are ofdual-ply characteristic.

Dual-ply caps generally have an inner cap member and an outer cap memberan arrange ment which permits the inner capto closely fit the crown ofthe head of the user, while the outer cap is of looser fit. While itwould be possible to provide such assembly by the use of separate caps,the fact that the caps could move relative to each other to a materialextent while in service and thus disturb the desired appearancaetctogether with the fact that extra care must be taken to prevent loss ormisplacement of one of the caps when not in service, has made suchcombination less desirable, although it has the advantage of offeringgreater protection due to the dual-ply characteristic.

The favorite mode of meeting these conditions has been to unit the twocaps at their marginal edges-in many cases provision has been made topartially inflate the combined caps with a view to providing a cushioneffect to aid in protecting thehead from surges as by wavesretc, or excessive pressure in the shower. While the assembly carries theseadvantages, it requires that both caps be applied concurrently to thehead thus making it difiioult to properly adjust the inner cap, andwhere inflation is to beprovided, it requires this aditional action toprepare the assembly for service, whether the inflation is made prior toor after the positioning; if inflation prior, it can affect the shape ofthe inner cap to an undesirable extent, and if the inflation is afteradjustment, the inflation becomes a somewhat awkward operation ifattempted by the user especially in the absence of an attendant.

The present invention is designed to obtain the benefits of the dual-plyformation in service, but to permit application of the caps to the headof the user as individuals, while at the same time the two caps arepermanently secured together to prevent loss or misplacement, theconnection also serving as a means to prevent material relative movementof one cap relative to the other. While there is no inflating actioncontemplated, the application of the caps to the head tends to set up aslight air cushion effect between the two caps, effective at the pointswhere most desirable,

this being provided by the air which is trapped during the positioningofthe outer cap.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be morereadilyunderstood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, saidinvention lar reference characters indicate 2 consists in the improvedconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which simisimilar parts in each of theviews Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the cap ensemble in serviceposition on the head of a user, i

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the ensemble showing the caps in theirrelationships preliminary to applying the ensemble to the head, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inner cap.

The caps are generally formed of any of the usual material used in theformation of bathing caps, such for instance, as rubber, rubberizedfabric, etc, the material being of a more or less flexible type. i

The inner cap Ill is somewhat similar to a skull cap in shape beingdesigned to fit over the crown of the head and therefore generally hasthe general shape of this portion of the head. The mar" gin ispreferably reinforced, as at w the depth of the cap being such as toprovide the desired fit with the reinforce between the helix of the earand the crown, thus leaving the ear exposed.

The outer cap H is of larger dimensions, also reinforced at its marginas at li but with the margin having a shape such as to provide a greaterdepth than that of cap it, with the front designed to overlie theforehead of the user, and then extend downwardly, as by curvature, forinstance, sufficient to overlie the ear and extend into the neck zone ofthe user. The outer cap thus encloses all but the face and the sides andfront of the neck zone. The outer cap also carries a suitable retainingstrap l2 having its ends secured to reinforce I F and adapted to bebrought under the chin of the user. As a result, cap ll completelyencloses cap Ill when the ensemble is in service, as indicated in Figure1, thus providing a general dual-ply characteristic to the ensemblesurmounting the crown of the head of the user.

The two caps are permanently secured together, as by vulcanization,within a central area 'of cap ill of material dimensions, the remainderof the caps being free from such secured relationship. As a result, theouter cap may be inverted at will, as indicated in Figure 2. This is ofpositive advantage due to thefact that the ensemble, when the outer capis thus inverted, permits the inner cap to be positioned on the head asthough an loo individual cap, permitting the user to adjust the cap tothe desired position; since the adjustment during such period is that ofa single ply formation the useris better able to readily meet theconditions of her hair coiffure. After cap iii is properly adjusted, capH is drawn downward over the positioned cap and properly secured inposition.

Since cap lil, when in position, generally has its axis inclined to thevertical see the dotted line representation of Figure '1-the centralarea referred to will generally lie somewhat in rear of the top of thecrown of the head, the zone of cap H which is secured to cap It beingselected so that when cap H is shifted to its enclosing position, cap iwill have the proper position not only with respect to cap 99, but alsoto the face, e rs and neck of the user. Since, in shifting cap it fromits inverted to its inclosing position, therewill be a tendency toentrap air between the two CELIJST'CE'P. ilk having: loose; fitcharacteristic and since theconnecting zone of the cap is notsymmetrical; tothetopot the crown of the head, thetr-appedi aircantendto cushion the eiiectof any sudden surges, as by waves whenswimming, on excessivepressures. ins' iower baths; and since the air isheld onlybythereinforced margin. 5 4?, the air can leak past the marginin. presence of highly excessivepressures.thus preventing shock to theheadiof-theiuser;

While the connection between the two caps may bemadebetsveentwo:complete caps, with the zone oigmaterial; area, it-,is. preferred toarrange the: connection. in. thesiorm. of; an annular zone, doingthisby'pmyidingicap ill; with an opening it of material dimensions;asshown. in. Figure 3,, the

cenneeting zone; surrounding such opening--in other. words a, lip. zoneof; the opening provides an annular seouringzone. Sir ce cap H, is notprovided with a similar opening, the opening H)? becomes closed; by;that;- portion of cap. H lying inside-of. thesecuring zone, thuproviding a one,- p yoral".

for;theareaofi'theopening; if cap ll n. t'yp s. thaoneeply covering forthe old permitofgslight expansion of air; liishouldservicaconditions sorequire. ot-h ca, sare p lershaped with the shapes such ovide for theready connection of the two e-;.central area-referred to, as byvulcanessential, the outer cap can be given a spec alformation withinthe securing zone. Since the vulcanization. provides a permanentunitingoi; the ceps Within such zone, it is possible to. provide; avspecial fullness.- to the shapeoi the outer cap-laboutandrelative tosuchsecuring zone toinc easethe cushion-ingefiect.

As; will: be. understood from. Figure. 1 that, in self-vice,-theopenihgg: WP is itself located wholly d tud lagis of thebodysofithewearer, as is the marginal; vnl anized zones which. surroundsthe opera p is. nactein produced throu h t atie or the pening; theapical zone. of the smre e pening is compa a vely ma l ll-ar a;hearrangementloca es the vulcanized zone in rear of such plane, l hispermits; thelarger outer cap to be completely urm i -outside i he; aned. connecting zone, as: shown in Fi ll fix 2, with the opposing Y facesof the. cap gradually diverging outwardly from, the; annulanvulcanizedsecuring zone, thus; enabling; the outen cap to he; inverted withoutplac ng any mater al rain on the ar or ne vulcanized COllnfiQtiQn.-.

es willi e unders ood). he f cthattbe u eriof' a: plane corresponding tothe longi-.

cap completely overlies the inner cap, the caps are positionable only byfirst inverting the outer cap to the position of Figure 2, thuscompletely exposing the marginal zone and the major body portion of theinner or skull cap, enabling the latter to be easily and properlyadjusted about the head of the wearer in overlying relation to thehair-as would be the case if the skull cap alone were being; adjusted,The larger cap is then easily drawn downward into its overlying positionand secured in place; since the vulcanized zone is in the special zonesof both caps, the distance between such zone and the margin of the outerap is comparatively large, enabling the cap body to have the fullnesswhich enables the formation of" the cushion effect shown in Figure l,through the; presence of the air that is trapped between the caps duringthe reversion of the outer cap to its service position, and at the sametime permit such reversion to take place without placing: any strain on.the material of cap or on the vulcanized connection.

While I; have herein shown. and; escribed a preferred form of theinvention it will be readily understood that changes orniodificationstherein may be found". desirable or essential in meeting the exigenciesof use and the desires of users, and

I' reserve the right. to. maize. any and all such changes ormodifications as may. be deemed de sirable, or essential insofanas; thesame may fall within. thei spirit andzscope of: the invention asexpressed in the: accompanying; claims, when.

broadly. construed.

What is claimedzas new. is:

1. A. bathing cap; ensemble comprising a pair of pro-shaped bathingcaps, permanently secured together remote"from theservice edge zones-ofthe caps tothereby provide adual-ply character-. istic of the ensembleduring. service, the inner cap ply being of; skull-cap type dimensionedto expose; the ears of the wearer andrhaving anopening in the apical;central; zone. of the cap, said opening being ojtsmall'z area-andpositioned to be locatedon the-crown. of; the head of the wearer andrearwardly; of; the longitudinal axis of the body of the. wearer; theouter. cap ply being a complete cap. formation. and: vulcanized to theinner; capply withinranannular-zone forming the toitsoverlying; statusreversion after the in,

ner-oaphasbeen; positioned, said capsin the.in verted: position of theouter 'cap. presenting. the opposing; cap. 155418353151 graduallydiverging out-. wardly from, the; annular vulcanized securing zone.

2, Anense nble; as; im claim. ,1 characterized in that: the. dimensions;of; the outer. cap are suflie ciently-greater thoseuofrthe inner cap. asto provide a loose;fitgrelationshipr between the caps u ardly of; heseuring Zone of the caps to positioned wholly: in.

rearward relation to the center of the crown of REFERENCES CITED thehead of the user to thereby permit the trapped air outward of theannular secured zone i l; g gga fg are of record m the to present acushioning effect to surging presv sures applied to the outer cap withinsuch crown 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS zone during service of the ensemble.Number Name Date 1,172,927 Bloch Feb. 22, 1916 ROSA 1,926,937 De Wet-Sept. 12,1933

